Printing-machine.



No. 890,961. PATENTED JUNE 16, 1908.

J. D. CALDWELL. PRINTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 31. 1907.

WITNESSES: IIVVEIVTOR: Y

' Arromvsr 3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

No. 890,961. PATENTED JUNE 16 1908.

. J. D. CALDWELL.

PRINTING MACHINE.

APPLIOATION FILED MAY 31. 1907.

3 SHEETSSHEET 2 ATTORNEY PA'IENTED JUNE 16, 1908.

J. D. CALDWELL.

PRINTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 31, 1907.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

Eli

IIVVE/VTOR JOHN D. oALDwELL, OF SEATTLE, WASHINGTON.

. Pr'tm'rrNe i/mcmNE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 16, 1908.

Application filed May 31, 1907. SeriaI No. 376,579.

T all whom it may concerm- Be it known that I, JOHN D. CALDWELL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Seattie, in the countyof King and State of Wash-' in ton, have invented certain new and usefu Improvements ln-Printing-Machmes, of

which the following is a specificati0n,ref er ence being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to printing ma chines more specifioally'to improvements. in machines employed for stamping or marking articles and the objectof the present invention is to so improve the apparatus as to facilitate the setting and marking operations, and generally to render the device more convenient and serviceable.

The invention consists in the novel construction,. adaptation and combination of parts as will be hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly in section, of a device embodying the invention; Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the upper portion of the same; Fig, 3 is a rear elevation of the upper portion of t e machine but with the frame-work at the rear in section and illustrating the inking mechanism in its normal or ino erative condition; Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3, but with the inking mechanism retracted from interference with the carrying on of the printing operations;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the key disengaging arm; Fig. 6 is a detail sectional view of the ring setting and securing devices; Fig. 7 is a front elevation of a portion of the type ring; voir; and Fig. 9 is a 'side elevation of the same. shown partly in section.

The improved device comprises a casing 10 rigidly attached to a head 11 surmounting a plurality of upright columns 12- which are supported by a base 13. Two of the columns 12 serve as guides for a vertically movable cross-head 14, carrying a platenl, and actuated through a connecting-rod 16 from a treadle 17 which is fulcrumed at 17 to said base.

In the improved device the casing is provided interiorly with a cylindrical barrel 18 upon which is rotatably mounted side by side a number of rings 19 having upon each similar peripherally disposed type characters. Provided integrally and extending radially from each of these rings is an arm 20 each arm respectively terminating in a rectangu- Fig. 8 is an end view of the ink reserlarly extended portion 20 finished at its ends to present a smooth wearing face 20 opposing the planed surfaces 21 provided for each at the rear of the casing face-plate 22.

The face plate 22 is rality of arcuate slots said barrel 18. Said slots are severally provided throughout their lengths with a series of opposing notches 24 which are s aced and denominated to correspond .with t e characters aforesaid upon the ty rin s.

Fixedly connected with eac of the extended portions 20 of the 20 mentioned and extending through the respective slots is a stud 25 having thereupon and exteriorly ofthe casing, a sleeve 26, or key, as it will be hereinafter designated, provided with a tapering inner end 26 adapted, when brought into registry with any of the cavities 24 furnished by the respective pairs or notches 24, to be partially socketed therein and be thus detachably maintained, see Fig. 6, by a spring 27 acting between a recessed shoulder 26 and the head of'a screw 28 adjustably engaged with the stud.

When the machine is inoperative the rings are desirably arranged to present in the plane of the platen ortions of their peripheries unprovided wit 1 type characters, as would occur whenthe-rings have been sw'ung through the medium of the respective arms and keys to cause the latter to register with certain of the cavities, as 24, whic are advantageously disposed at the extreme right hand end of the various slots.

provided with a pl1 1- 22 one for each of said rings, and are arranged to be concentric with To adjust or set the type into predetermined operative positions, viz. within a printing line directly above the platen, the reys are individually withdrawn by the operator from the cavities24 and thence by swinging movements successively bringing the keys into positions to register with the cavities respectively appropriated to the desired characters, thus shifting the rings to correspondingly position the selected type as desired. When the type have been thus set they are reliably held against accidental dislacei'nent by the. spring-pressed controlling eye, when released, being socketed in the face-plate oavities, and are then capable of being utilized to repeatedly markthe goods when the same are forcibly impressed thereagainst upon the upwardly thrust platen.

Previously to a re-setting of the type for a new series of markings, the rings are preferwithin the cavities 24 ably returned to their initial inoperative positions by engaging their keys within the cavities 24. .This is accomplished by means of a wi e'r bar 29, see Figs. 2 and 5, which is plvota ly connected immediately in front of the face plate to a pin extending axially notches to straddle the inner tapering ends of the keys arid dislodge the latter from their seats Within the cavities, and whereupon by'a continuation of such action by the wiper they are swept into positions for seating when the wiper is retracted, to permit the play of the springs 27. To facilitate the manipulation of the wiper it is provided with a handle 29 which is protrudcd beyond the peripheral wall 10 of the casing; and in order that the wiper may be held in juxtaposition with the face-plate a groove l( is provided in said wall to slidably receive'an offset block 29 of the wiper.

31 and 31 are arms fxedly secured, as'by set screws, to a pin 30 and are respectively disposed in the rear and in front of the head 'portion'1022, and have tiltably connected to their outer extremities, lugs 32, 32, of a cylindrical chambered member 33 provided with a longitudinal opening 33 in its circular wall and with an open front end 33 'into which the reservoir for the marking fluid is introduced. This reservoir '34, see Figs. 8 and-9, is substantially cylindrical. and of such diameter'as to fit snugly within the member 33 and is formedwith a'longitudinal dovetail shaped recess in-its periphery for the re-v ception. of a detachable in -dauber 34, of fe t, or an equivalent absorbent material.

I The portion of the reservoir wall which contacts with the dauber is provided with a plurality ofperforations 35 through which the ink percolates to supply the dauber when the reservoir is successively tilted, as during the marking operations, as will be presently described. I

36 is aidetachable plug to provide a closure for an opening at one end of the reservoir through which'the latter is charged with ink and at the other end of the reservoir is, desirably, a knob handle 34? protruding from the member 33' to facilitate the withdrawal of the reservoir when it is to be unemployed for a'considerable time, as at the end 'of a working da The lug 32 is prolonged, beyond its connection with the arm 31 and terminates in an angularly directed finger 37 while upon each seaeei stops 32 and 32 adapted upon occasion to act against and limit the swing of the member 33- with respect to the arms 31 and 31. By reason of the unbalanced condition of the -member 33 together with its attachments,

the same will be maintained normally by the stop 32 in the position illustrated in Fig. 3, and with the dauber 34, which-protrudes through the opening 33 some distance below the type rings.

Rigidly secured to one s1de of'the crosshead 14 is an upwardly extending bar 39 which is bent, as at 39", to carry above, the other side a forwardly projecting stud 39 uaon which is a sleeve 40 carrying. a plate 41 ich is normally maintained in a horizontal position by a spring 42 pressing a protruding portion 40 of the sleeve against a fixed stop 39 'of the stud. A lever43 is fulcrumed to a pin 44 secured to the rear of the casing, and the lever arm 43 is arranged to vibrate in the same plane as the finger 37, while the arm 43 is provided with a pin 43 adapted to be engaged by the plate 41 and,be carried therewith for a short distance during the upward travel of the latter which effects the impinging of the first named arm with said finger, to cause the uplifting of the reservoir'for aplying the ink to the exposed'type during the beginning of the upward movement 0 the of said member, at

cross-head. Such rectilinear movement of the plate 41 carries the pin 43 therewith until it is withdrawn from the path of the plate by the circularcourse taken by the pin, whereupon the lever 43 is released and returned by a retractile spring 45 to its normal position whereat the lever arm 43 will not obstruct the finger 37 ,to interfere with the swinging of the arms 31, 31, which carry the ink reservoir, into their extreme elevated position, shown in Fig. 4, while the cross-head is completing its upward stroke to bring the goods against the inked type. This action of the last named arms is accomplished by the provision of'another arm 46 upon the pin 30 and provided with an anti-friction roller 46 which is engaged by and carried with a cam-faced lug 47 adjustably'secured to the bar 39.

The just described appliances, when actu ated, swings the ink reservoir out of the reach of any fabric which may be upon the platen as the latter is carried upwardly to imprint the article,'and as the platen descends with the cross-head, the reservoir and the actuating mechanism therefor, is allowed to return through the action of gravity to their initial positions, as shown in Fig: 3; and, through the peculiar mounting of the sleeve 40, the plate 41 is tilted backwardly against the op-' posing force of the connected spring to per mit the passin of the lover-arm 43 there by. Furthermore, y theoscillations of the reservoir which ensues during the travel of the reservoir tof and from, the type, the ink is seaesi a 'itated suffi ciently p charged.

48 is a stop 'adjustably secured to the easing for limiting the downward swing of the to keep the dauber amarms 31, 31, to bring the inking devices in i to provide a receptacle for the reservoir when the machine is inoperative, and is chambered to make a close fit and prevent the evaporation of the liquid ink.

The operation of the invention will,'it is thought, be understood from the foregoing and will need no further description.

The construction of the various devices employed in the invention are such as to adapt themto their several functions and render the machine positive in its action and very easily manipulated to accomplish a 1 good grade of work. The settingof the type characters is easily performed and are automatically locked in place and so maintained while they are being employed in marking similarly grouped characters upon any number of articles. The operation of the keys which retain the type in printing position may be done individually, and each of them separately manipulated to move the type directly into reset position, or they may be all disengaged by the action of the wiper to return them to initial positions previously to a re-arrangement thereof.

The inking contrivances are peculiarly adapted for the class of work for which the invention is intended and is characterized by the provision of devices whereby the ink is applied to the type immediately before each printing operation. The ink reservoir is carried out of proximity of the article-being marked by a quick movement and in such a manner as to insure a proper supply of ink to the dauber. Furthermore, by the provision of an enlarged bearing of substantial and rigid construction I am enabled to employ less cumbersome and more easily controlled type carrying members than hitherto and insure a firm resistant to any undue shocks which may be imparted from. the platen'during the printing operations, thus safeguarding'the machine against derangement as well as furnishing an extended seat.

for the various t pe rings to enable them to withstand the ali distort-ion. -Having described my invention, whatI claim is,

1. In a device of the class described, an inclosing casing having a plurality of concentric slots in one of its walls, a llrum within said casing, a plurality of annul 'ir type rings arranged side by side upon said drum and adapted to be oscillated thereofi anil having spaced type characters on one p rtion of their ove noted strains without peripheries, means connected to the blank portions of said rings for individually rotating the rings into permanent printing positions comprising a radial arm on each ring, a rod projecting from each arm through the slots in saidcasing, means for independently securing the rings in adjusted positions comprising spring-pressed sleeves on said rods, a platen, means for pressing said platen against the type rings, and inking devices operating to supply ink to the type carriers between the actions of the platen.

2. In a printing machine, the combination with a casing provided interiorly with a cylindrical bearing, of type-rings mounted upon said bearing and adapted to be severally rotated into various predetermined positions an arm extending from each of 'said type rings, devices carried by said arms for engaging within spaced cavities of the casing for retaining the rings in set positions, and a device for engaging said devices to disengage the rings.

3. In a printing machine, the combination with the casing, type-rings rotatably mounted within said casing, an arm upon each typering and spring-pressed devices carried by said arms and adapted to engage the casing to maintain said type-rings in various positions, of an arm pivotally connected with the casing andprovided with a'series of notches adapted to register with the respective said devices for disengaging the same.

4. In a device of the class described, an inclosing casing having a plurality of concentric slots in one of its walls, a plurality of rings within said casing and each provided with a radial arm, spaced type characters upon one portion of each ring rods projecting from said arms and extending respectively through said slots, and spring-pressed sleeves on said rods and operating to lock the rings in selected positions.

adapted to yieldably engage consecutively in said slots, a sleeve upon each of said rods, a spring within each of said sleeves and operating to maintain the sleeve yieldably in engagement in one. of the slot recesses, a platen, means for periodically operating said platen, an inking device, and means for operating said inking device between the actions of said platen. I

6. In a printing machine, the combination comprising a radial arm on each 'rin with the casing having a lurality of concentric slots in one of its'wa ls, of rings having type characters upon aportion of the periphcry of each, ,means operating upon the blank portion of each ring to adj ustably move said rings into predetermined printing positioni a re pro ecting from each arm through t e slots in said casing, a platen, means for elevatin the platen, means embod ing spring-pressed sleeves on the rods for loclzingthe rings in desired position, and inking deviceso crating to supply ink to the type carriers between the actions of the platen.

7. In a device. of the class described, an inclosing casing having a plurality of concentric slots in one of its walls and with spaced recesses communicating with said slots, a plurality of type ring's each having aradial arm, a rod projecting from each of said arms and extending respectively through said slots, a sleeve slidable upon each of said rods, and a spring carried by each of said rods and operating to maintain said sleeves yieldably inf'engagement consecutively with the re-' ,cesses 1n said slots.

8. In a device of the class described, an in-. closlng casing having a plurality of concentric slots in one of its walls and with spaced ,slots, a sleeve slidable upon each of said rods,

a spring carried by each of said rods and each operating to maintain one of said sleeves yieldably in engagement consecutively with the recesses in said slots.

9. In a printing machine, the combination with the casing provided with arcuate slots, a cylindrical, hearing within the casing, a plurality of type-rings mounted upon said caring and severallyprovided with a stud extending through the respective slots, a spring-pressed sleeve mounted upon each said stud and adapted to be socketed in various spaced positions throughout the lengths of said slots whereby predeterminate type of ,the respective rings may be retained in printing position, and a wiper arm adapted to disengage the sleeves from said sockets and also transmit them to positions wherein the type-rings are inoperative.

10. The combination with a casing having interiorly a cylindrical bearing and a faceplate provided with a plurality of concentric slots severally provided with a series of cavities, a plurality of type-rings rotatably seated upon said bearing, an arm for each of said rings and severally provided with a bent extremity adapted to bear against the inner surface of said face plate, studs for said arms and extending through the respective slots, sleeves seated upon said studs and provided with tapering ends adapted to be socketed "interchangeably Within the cavities of the re spective slots, and springs acting to causethe sleeves to engage the face-plate and Within said cavities. v

11. In a device of the class described, the

combination of a casing having a plurality of concentric slots in oneo'f its walls and pro-- vided with asegmental guide channel, a plur'ality of type rings within said casing having spaced type characters upon a portion of the periphery ofeach, means for setting said ing said platen, and inking devices operating to supply ink to the type carriers between the actions of the platen.

12. In a device of the class described, a casing having a plurality of concentric slots in one of its walls and with a segmental guide channel, a plurality of type rings within said casing and each rovi'ded with a radial arm having an exten ed portion bearing against the slotted wall; a rod projecting from each of said extended portions through the adjacent slot, a sleeve slidable upon each of said rods and adapted to consecutively engage said recesses and each provided with a tapered inner end, a spring carried by each of said rods .and operating to maintain said sleeves yieldably in engagement consecutively With saidslot recesses, an armswinging from said casing and provided with spaced notches corresponding to said sleeves and each notch inclined to enable themto operatively engage the. tapered portions of the sleeves.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of tlwo Witnesses.

JOHN D. CALDWELL. Witnesses:

PIERRE BARNES,

OnAs. E. S. BURCH. 

